First she had to wait through two groups, but then she was the first to shoot in her group. For Jessica Schneider of Flanagan-Cornell-Woodland, it was a matter of taking things in stride.

Schneider, a junior, competed Thursday in the Country Three-Point Showdown at Redbird Arena. She was one of 32 girls in the Class 1A field. The same number competed in the Class 2A field at the other end of the floor.

“It was pretty exciting,” Schneider said.

Each shooter tries to make as many of her 15 shots — five from each wing and five from the top of the key — in a 45-second time frame. Schneider made seven shots from beyond the arc.

“I was trying for 10 or 11 but it was pretty nerve-wracking,” she said.

Had Schneider hit her goal, she would have advanced to Saturday’s final. The top four advance. Cassie Reiley of Prophetstown won with 11. Two others had 10 while two made nine for a shoot-off.

The Falcons lost in the Midland Regional, so Schneider had some time to prepare.

“I just practiced during my free time,” Schneider said. “I felt pretty prepared, as prepared as you can be.”

The road was a little different this season for the shooters. Instead of shooting before each game a person’s team would play, all the competitors shot prior to the championship game.

She finished among the top four at the regional and IVCC Sectional to earn her spot at Redbird.

“I liked it a lot better, actually,” Schneider said. “It was less traveling for the regional and the sectional far away. Plus, you get it done in one night.”

The finals for 1A and 2A will be Saturday with the Queen of the Hill competition — a battle between the winners of each class — will be held on March 2.